Harness



WITNE SE (No Model.)

L.H. GREA-MER. HARNESS, No. 519,149. Patented May 1, 1894. l

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFEIcE.

L WIs HARLAN' OREAMER, OF MEOHANICS'BURG,,OHIO.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,149 dated May 1,1894.

Application filed November 27, 1893. Serial No. 192,077. (No model.)

' animals to vehicles.

The object of my invention is to provide novel means for attachinganimals to vehicles so that the operation of hitching or unhitchingshall be reduced to the minimum.

A further object of my invention is to provlde novel means forequalizing the draft on vehicles while dispensing with the ordinarywhiffle-tree or single-tree. t

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations ofparts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation illustratingmy improved harness in operation. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of aportion of the same where it is attached to the shaft. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same showing aslight modification. Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, are details of the tugs ortraces, and the device for attaching them" to the harness to equalizethe draft.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral views.

In the said drawings, a represents a shaft of an ordinary vehicle.

I) is the saddle of the harness, 11' the breeching and b the breaststrap or collar, all of which are of the usual construction. Attached tothe saddle b at each side are my improved shaft holders, which consistof open metallic hooks c,each provided at one side with a slottedopening 0, through which a clamping strap (1 is adapted to be passed;said openshaftholder being further provided at its outer end with anotched or recessed opening 0 substantially of the same width as theopening 0'.

The shaft a is provided with a fastening cleat e, preferably providedwith a T.-shaped head 6', and to this cleat e the tugs f are adapted tobe attached. These tugs f are the collar. cured to the collar and thewhole covered up connected at their forward ends to rodsf which extendinto spring cases f having springs f therein; the rods being providedwith enlarged ends f adapted to bear on the springs f so that a yieldingpressure. is ap-.

plied to the tugs or traces f. Thesespring cases preferably consist of ametallictube, one end of which is sheared back for a short distance andprovided with an incision through its periphery for a portion of itscircumference, as shown in. Fig. 7, to form is adapted to pass. Thefiangesf are adapted to fit over the flanges f of the plug, and when inposition the said flanges are secured together and the spring casessecured to the breast collar b by rivets j, which pass through therespective flanges and through The spring cases are further seso as topresent an attractive appearance by a leather casing f which is passedaround said spring case and stitched at. eachside to the breast collar.The shaft holderc is further connected to the breeching b by means of ahold-back strap 5 the construction being such that the ordinaryhold-back strap may be employed for this purpose, the difference beingthat instead of being connected to the shafts, as in the ordinarymanner, these straps are connected to the shaft holders.

The saddle b is connectedin the usual way to the belly-band b while theclamping strap d, after being looped about the shaft and holder, ashereinafter more. fully described, is buckled to the shaft band at b inthe usual way. The operation of hitching and unhitching the horse asthus described is as follows:- The shafts are laid into the openhook-shaped shaft holders 0, the. construction being such that theshafts may be placed directly into the same from the top instead ofbeing placed laterally through the same in the usual manner. The tugs fare hooked over the T- shaped end 6 of the cleat e, after which theclamping strap (1 is passed over the tug into the notched opening 0 ofthe shaft holder and through a metallic loop (1' at the bottom of saidshaftholder, then buckled to the shaft band 19 in the usual manner. Ifdesired, the clamping strap 01 may be provided with a slotted opening 0Zadapted to pass over the T-shaped end 6 of the cleat e, (as shown inFig. 3) though it will be found to operate quite as well by placing theclamping strap d in front of the T-shaped end 6 of said cleat, as shownin Fig. 4. This constitutes the whole operation of hitching up, theunhitching being simply a reversal of the operation. The constructionand adjustment of the traces are such that the unequal draft caused bythe movement of the horse is equalized by the springs, the use of awhiffie-tree being entirely dispensed with. I have shown in Fig. 1 aspring case 9, similar to the one f attached to the back-band, thespring in this case being used as a medium for connecting the shaftholder 0. This construction, while desirable, isnot necessary in theoperation of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a harness, a saddle, abreeching, a shaft holder connected to said saddle, and a connectionfrom said holder to said breeching, said shaft holder being open at thetop and provided with oppositely-arranged openings in the sides thereof,a clamping strap extending through said openings, tugs or traces, aprojection with which said tugs or traces engage, said clamping strapbeing adapted to clamp said tugs or traces and also engage theprojection which furnished the point of attachment for said tugs ortraces, substantially as specified.

2. In a harness, a saddle, a breeching, and a breast collar, open shaftholders on said saddle, a connection from said shaft holders to saidbreeching, spring cases secured to said breast collar, springs in saidspring cases, tugs or traces secured to said springs, said tugs ortraces being adapted to be connected to the shafts of a vehicle inproximity to said holders clamping straps passing through openings onopposite sides of said shaft holders so as to clamp said tugs or tracesto said shafts and also engage the projections to which the tugs ortraces are attached, substantially as specified. Y

" 3. In a harness, a breast collar, tugs or traces, spring casescontaining springs to which said traces are connected, said spring casesconsisting of a metallic tube formed at one end with projecting flanges,and a plug adapted to fit in said tube having sim lar flanges, andfastening devices extend ng through said flanges to fasten said springcases to said breast collar, substantially as specified.

4. In a harness, a breast collar, spring cases consisting of sheet metaltubes having one end sheared and bent, as described, to formlaterally-extendin g flanges, a metallic plug having a centralperforation adapted to fit into said tube, and also provided withflanges which extend coincidentwith the tube flanges, means for securingsaid flanges together and to the breast collar, a leather sheathing oversaid spring cases also secured to said breast collar, and springs insaid cases to which the tugs or traces are connected, substantially asspecified.

5. In a harness, an open hook-shaped shaftholder provided on oppositesides with slotted and recessed openings, as described, a clamping strappassing through said openings so as to be looped around said shaftholder and clamp a vehicle shaft therein, a spring-connected traceadapted to engage a projection on the vehicle shaft in proximity to saidshaft holder, a shaft band below the shaft holder having a loop throughwhich the clamping strap is adapted to be secured whereby the trace isclamped to the shaft within said shaft holder with the clamping strapengaging the projection to which said trace is secured, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day ofNovember, A. D. 1893.

LEWIS HARLAN CREAMER. Witnesses:

WM. 0. PANGBORN, O. S. PANGBORN.

